Flush closure



May 28, 1963 G. M. SIMPKINS 3,

FLUSH CLOSURE Filed June 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G/DEo/v Mnc',S/MPK/NS INVENTOR.

BY Wm $444M ATTORN EYS May 28, 1963 G. M. SIMPKINS FLUSH CLOSURE FiledJune 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Filed June 16, 1961, Ser. No. 117,644 7Claims. (Cl. 22025) This invention relates generally to closures andparticularly to closures adapted to fit within the opening to be closedand to present an outer surface flush with the surrounding structure.

An object of the invention is to provide a new, and improved flush-typeclosure of simple construction which can be easily operated.

Another object is to provide such a closure having novel mechanicalmeans for releasably securing the device in place and effecting a fluidtight seal between it and the member in which it is mounted and betweenparts of the device itself.

Another object is to provide a device which can be readily operatedunder wide ranges of temperature and can be manipulated to release orunlock it at low temperatures where the same has been covered with ice.

Still another object is to provide a relatively lightweight device whichcan be manufactured economically.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and thefollowing description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a central sectional view through a closure device embodyingthe invention and showing the device releasably secured in an adaptermounted in the wall of a surrounding structure;

'FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an inverted sectional plan view on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the device with theparts in released or unlocked position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the cam and pinlock mechanism at the inner end of the device; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified type of housingconstruction.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 designates astructure having a flat outer surface 12 and an opening 13 therethrough.An adapter 15- is shown mounted in opening 13 of member 12 and this isprovided with a flange 16 which is received in a counterbore 17 so thatthe outer surface of the flange provides a continuation of the flatouter surface 12 of structure 11.

The adapter 15 provides an interior surface which includes a taperedentry section 18 and a cylindrical section 19. The closure device of theinvention, generally designated by numeral 20, is shown in the adapter.The inner wall section 18 is provided with an annular groove 21 toreceive a sealing ring 22. The adapter is also provided with acounterbore or annular recess 14 at its outer end to receive the deviceas will later appear.

The closure 20' includes a cup-shaped housing 25 provided with aninclined or frusto-conical side wall 26 and an inner wall 27. Wall 26 isoutwardly flanged at its upper end at 26' and a cover-plate 30 is weldedor otherwise secured thereto.

The cover plate is centrally dished at 31 and centrally apertured at 32to receive a headed locking pin 34 which is both slidable and rotatablein the opening. Pin 34 has a slot 35 in the outer surface of its head 36for the reception of a suitable tool. The head is contoured to fit theinner surface 31 of the dished portion 31 of the top when positioned asin FIG. 1. The outer surface 37 of the pin is flat so that it will beflush with the outer surface of the cover plate. A peripheral groove 38containing a seal ring 39 is provided for effecting a seal between theparts.

The inner wall 27 of the housing has an annular depressed portion 40which is centrally apertured to pass a section 41 of the locking pin ofreduced diameter. A cam plate 42 is secured to the under surface of thelower wall by rivets 43, and this is centrally apertured at 44 toreceive the reduced section 41 of the pin. Also, it is provided withradial slots 46 to pass a crosspin 48 mounted in the locking pin.

Cam plate 42 is formed to provide two cam sections 50 which extendcircumferentially of the slots 46 and which are correspondingly disposedhaving inclined cam surfaces 51 extending axially away from the innerwall 27 and terminating therebeyond in radially extending recesses 53for receiving the end portions of the cross pin 48.

The pin 34 carries three latching legs designated 56 which are pivotallymounted at their inner ends upon a spider 5-7 provided with suitablepairs of apertured ears 58 between which the inner ends of the legs arereceived, pins 59 passing through the parts. The spider is held betweena shoulder 60 on pin 34 and a split ring 61. The legs are angular, oroutwardly bowed, each having an inner section 62 and an outer section 63extending at a substantial angle thereto. The outer end portions 64 ofthe legs are turned back slightly upon sections 63 and project throughopenings 65 provided in the cup housing so that they can serve to engagethe under or inner surface of the adapter 15 (FIG. 1) or any othersuitable undercut ledge. A coil compression spring 66 is mounted betweenthe legs and the inner Wall 27 of the housing. This serves to urge thelocking pin outwardly of the housing and draw the latching legs into thehousing.

In order to install the flush cap, it is inserted in the adapter untilthe housing is nearly flush with the surrounding structure, as shown inFIG. 4. In this position spring 66 serves to hold the legs retracted andat the same time hold the locking pin in outer or released position. Inorder to lock the device, the pin is pushed into the housing against theforce of the spring with the crosspin in alignment with the slots 46after which the locking pin is turned clockwise to draw it in by theaction of the crosspin traversing the cam faces 51 until it comes torest in the recesses 53, and thus position the pants as shown in FIG. 1.In such position, the legs 56 are extended to engage the under or inneranchor surface 7 0 of the adapter. In reaching this position the legsexert leverage upon the housing to draw it into the adapter and thuscompress seal 22.

To release the cap, the pin 34 is turned counterclockwise until itsprings out as shown in FIG. 4. The extended pin then serves as anindicator or flag that the cap is not secured and also serves as ahandle for removing the cap.

In FIG. 7 I show another form of the invention wherein the housing cup,here designated 75, is shown provided with an interior-1y threaded upperend section 76 into which a top plate 77 having -a depending externallythreaded flange 78 is threaded. A seal ring 80 is provided between theparts. This type of construction can be used where it is desirable tohave a housing which can be readily disassembled.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of myinvention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can bemade therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which isindicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A flush-type closure 'adapted to be releasably mounted in an openingin a structure providing an undercut anchoring surfiace, comprising ahousing receivable in said opening having an inner end wall, a lockingpin mounted centrally of said housing for limited axial movement and forrotative movement, a plurality of radially extending latch legspivotally mounted at their inner ends on said locking pin for pivotalmovement in planes containing the pivotal axis of the locking pin, thefree ends of said legs projecting through said housing in extendedposition for engagement with the anchoring surface, when said lockingpin isin its inner position, spring means interposed between the innerend wall of the housing and said legs yieldably urging said locking pinoutwardly of said housing thereby to retract said legs, andinterengaging means on said housing and said locking pin for releasablysecuring said locking pin in innermost position.

2. A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which said legs are howed towardthe outer end of the housing and said spring means comprises acompression coil spring.

3. in a flush-type closure adapted to be releasably mounted in anopening in a structure providing an undercut anchoring surface adjacentthe opening, comprising a housing receivable in the opening having aninner wall and having an outer wall flush with the outer surface of thestructure, said outer wall having a central, centrally apentured dishedsection, a locking pin mounted centrally of said housing fior limitedaxial movement and extending through said dished portion of the outerwall of the housing, said pin having a head receivable in said dishedportion of said outer wall in sealing relation therewith when.

the pin is in inner, locked position, said head having a hat outersurface adapted to be flush with the outer surface of said housing, aplurality of radially extending latch legs pivotally mounted at theirinner ends on said locking pin for pivotal movement in planes containingthe pivotal axis of the locking pin, said legs each being bowed towardsaid outer wall and terminating in end portions projecting through saidhousing, a coil spring between the inner wall or" said housing and theintermediate portions of the legs tending to retract said legs into thehousing and move said locking pin outwardly of the housing, andinterengaging means on said inner Wall of said housing and said lockingpin for releasably securing said locking pin in inner, locked position.

4. A closure as set forth in claim 3 in which said interengaging meanscomprises a crosspin in said locking pin and cam surface and recessmeans on the inner wall of the housing engageable by said crosspin.

5. A closure adapted to be releasably mounted-in an opening in astructure providing an undercut anchoring surface, comprising a housingreceivable in said opening, said housing having an inner wall, an outerwall, and a frusto-conical side wall, a locking pin mounted centrally ofsaid housing for limited axial movement and for rotative movement, saidinner and outer walls being centrally apertured and receiving thelocking pin, a plurality of radially extending latch legs pivotallymounted at their inner ends on said locking pin for pivotal movement inplanes containing the pivotal axis of the locking pin, said side wallhaving openings through which the tree ends of said legs project inextended position for engagement with the anchoring surface when saidlocking pin is in its inner position, a compression spring interposedbetween intermediate portions of said legs and said inner wall of thehousing yie-ldably urging said legs and said locking pin outwardly ofsaid housing thereby to retract said legs, and interengaging means onthe inner wall of said housing and said locking pin for releasablysecuring said locking pin in its inner position.

6. In a closure adapted to be releasably mounted in an opening in astructure providing an undercut anchoring surfiace, a cup-like housinghaving an inner wall, an outer wall, and a side wall, a locking pinmounted centrally of said housing for limited axial movement, aplurality of latch legs pivot-ally mounted at their inner ends on saidlocking pin for pivotal movement in planes containing the axis of thepin, said legs being bowed intermediate their ends toward the outer wallof the housing, said side wall of the housing having openings throughwhich the free ends of the legs project, compression spring meansbetween the inner wall of the housing and the bowed portions of the legsyieldably urging said legs and said locking pin in a direction towardsaid outer wall of the housing whereby to retract said legs relative tothe side wall, and interengaging means on said housing and said pin forsecuring said pin in inward position with said spring compressed andsaid legs extended to engage said anchoring surface. a

7. The closure set forth in claim 6 in which said outer wall isdetachably secured to said side wall and in which said spring, said'legsand said pin are removable from the remainder of the housing when theouter wall is removed.

References Cited in thefile of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A FLUSH-TYPE CLOSURE TO BE RELEASABLY MOUNTED IN AN OPENING IN ASTRUCTURE PROVIDING AN UNDERCUT ANCHORING SURFACE, COMPRISING A HOUSINGRECEIVABLE IN SAID OPENING HAVING AN INNER END WALL, A LOCKING PINMOUNTED CENTRALLY OF SAID HOUSING FOR LIMITED AXIAL MOVEMEMT AND FORROTATIVE MOVEMENT, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING LATCH LEGSPIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THEIR INNER ENDS ON SAID LOCKING PIN FOR PIVOTALMOVEMENT IN PLANES CONTAINING THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF THE LOCKING PIN, THEFREE ENDS OF SAID LEGS PROJECTING THROUGH SAID HOUSING IN EXTENDEDPOSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ANCHORING SURFACE, WHEN SAID LOCKINGPIN IS IN ITS INNER POSITION, SPRING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE INNEREND WALL OF THE HOUSING AND SAID LEGS YIELDABLY URGING SAID LOCKING PINOUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING THEREBY TO RETRACT SAID LEGS, ANDINTERENGAGING MEANS ON SAID HOUSING AND SAID LOCKING PIN FOR RELEASABLYSECURING SAID LOCKING PIN IN INNERMOST POSITION.